If you’re a lover of pasta and Italian food, then rejoice! For today is National Fettuccine Alfredo Day! Unfortunately, while your mouth may be celebrating, your body is probably not. Fettuccine Alfredo is notoriously bad for you. In fact, Olive Garden’s Fettuccine Alfredo dinner entree is 1219 calories and 75 grams of fat… way over 100 percent of your daily fat requirement. While this may be disheartening, don’t fret! There are healthier ways to make this dish that will have your tongue equally in ecstasy. Try one of these lower fat and lower calorie recipes to celebrate this momentous day!

With only 490 calories per serving, this dish has far less calories than its standard counterparts. The secret is using only one tablespoon of butter as well as low-fat cream cheese and low-fat milk. Using a tad of flour creates a thick sauce, while Parmesan cheese and a clove of garlic give it a delicious flavor.

Amazingly, this recipe doesn’t use any cream cheese, butter, or cream! Instead, it relies on the flavors of fresh garlic, chicken stock, olive oil, and cheese to create the creamy texture you crave. When paired with standard pasta, this dish comes out to be only 450 calories a serving. Try using whole wheat or gluten free pasta for an even lower total count.

Even more incredible than the last recipe, this one uses cauliflower in place of cheese. Before you sigh in disgust, give it a try! The cauliflower actually mimics the taste and texture of traditional Alfredo sauce quite well. Plus, it adds a tons of vitamins you wouldn’t normally get in pasta. Vegetable broth, six cloves of garlic, and heavy cream ensure you aren’t lacking in flavor.

Ok, if you don’t want to sacrifice your cheese, butter, or cream, this recipe might be for you. It uses all of the above, but in small amounts to keep things lower calories. To make up for it, it calls for milk and flour to thicken the sauce. Fresh parsley and black pepper make it look as delicious as it tastes!

By cutting out the cream, butter and cream cheese, this recipe is able to provide tasty Alfredo for only 292 calories a serving. It uses vegetable oil, skim milk, and chicken broth to cut down on unnecessary calories and fat. A half of cup of cheese, garlic, and an onion add a savory flavor you won’t be able to get enough of.

Butter- and cream-free is the way to be! With the addition of fresh garlic, Parmesan cheese, and pesto, you won’t even be able to tell the difference. Additionally, olive oil, low-fat milk, and vegetable broth also help to keep things on the slim side. When calculating the damage, this sauce totals out to be only 182 calories without the addition of pasta!

Today is a glorious holiday, or at least one of my favorites… National Pasta Day! It’s the perfect time to chow down on a heaping helping of mac and cheese, spaghetti with meatballs, fettuccine Alfredo, or even some tasty pesto penne. Unfortunately, none of these foods are very healthy for you, which leads to quite a dilemma… to celebrate National Pasta Day or not?

Don’t worry, there is a solution! Instead of using your mom’s mac and cheese recipe which calls for six sticks of butter, why not try one of these healthy pasta alternatives? By switching to natural and more wholesome ingredients, these healthy pasta recipes can actually be good for you! That way, you can celebrate this most important of holidays without ruining your diet and harming your body.

This fun dish breathes new life into your tired and overused spaghetti recipe. The sweet potatoes make a surprisingly good addition to the pasta, while the clumps of ricotta blend everything together into creamy goodness. For an even lighter dish, try low fat cheeses instead.

Normal pesto is filled with unhealthy oil, but this version drastically cuts back on the grease. By using a bit of chicken broth, lemon juice, and tofu, this sauce is able to mimic the creamy texture of pesto. Additionally, the spinach adds a great boost of vitamins to the mix and has the same green look as the traditional sauce.

Mac and cheese is a wonderful meal, but usually so unhealthy. This dish tries to turn that around a little bit with no added butter or oil. The gooey cheese combine with low-fat milk to create a creamy sauce, while the addition of chopped broccoli adds some necessary green veggies to your diet.

Spice up your palette by adding a bit of Mediterranean flair with this lamb and eggplant pasta combo. The unusual combination of flavors will have your tongue singing with joy, while your body feasts upon the many vitamins and nutrients. Lean meat provides healthy protein, while the overload of eggplant offer vitamins.

Fettuccine Alfredo is a classic, and this twist on it actually makes it healthier to eat. The fresh asparagus pairs nicely with the pasta and adds a delightful crunch. Small amounts of butter, less-fat cream cheese, and fat-free milk keep your cholesterol under control.

Ok, since this is a casserole, it might not be the healthiest option on the list. But it is a lot healthier than a normal casserole. Extra lean beef and turkey provide quality protein and a scattering of veggies offer vitamins, while low fat ricotta cheese and light mozzarella cheese cut out some calories.